About the ged writing exam 4 docx

Who Takes the GED—and Why

The 860,000 people who take the GED each year are a

very diverse group who come from a rich variety of back￾grounds. As different as their situations and experiences

may be, their main reasons for taking the GED are the

same. Passing the GED:

■ enables them to apply to colleges and universities

■ allows them to apply for jobs or promotions that

require a high school diploma

■ demonstrates to others the importance of

education

■ is a significant accomplishment that improves

self-esteem

GED candidates range in age from 16 to over 60. The

ACE’s publication Who Took the GED? reports that

slightly over half the GED candidates in 2001 were

between the ages of 20 and 39, with an average age of

25.2 years. Two-thirds of the test takers reported com￾pleting tenth grade; one-third had completed their jun￾ior or senior years. Nearly two-thirds of the test takers

reported plans to pursue higher education after earning

their GED diploma.

More GEDs Than Ever

2001 was a record year for the GED—over one

million people took all or part of the exams. The

record number was partly due to the new GED

2002 test series. Test takers had to complete

the old GED by December 31, 2001, or else

begin all over with the new exam. Of the

979,829 adults who took all five exams,

669,403 (68%) earned their high school equiv￾alency diplomas.

GED Eligibility Requirements

GED candidates must first meet certain eligibility

requirements set by the ACE and participating states and

territories. You are eligible to take the GED if you meet

the following conditions:

1. You are not enrolled in high school AND

2. You have not graduated from high school AND

3. You are at least 16 years of age AND

4. You meet the requirements of your state,

province, or territory regarding age, residency, and

the length of time since leaving school. Arkansas,

for example, requires that you be a “legal resident”

of the state, which means that you must spend

most of your time in Arkansas, pay property taxes,

and possess a valid Arkansas driver’s license or

state-issued identification card. Kentucky’s eligi￾bility requirements vary depending upon the can￾didate’s age. Be sure to check with your state

department of education or your local testing cen￾ter for specific eligibility requirements.

Testing Centers and Registration

There are approximately 3,400 GED testing centers

around the world. These centers are typically operated by

local school boards, community colleges, and/or centers

for adult education. Test takers outside the United States,

Canada, or their territories may be able to take the GED

at a Thomson Prometric facility.

Because test centers are run locally, registration pro￾cedures, fees, and testing times vary. You need to contact

the center where you would like to take the tests to find

specific registration, fee, and test time information.

If you live inside the United States, Canada, or their

territories, you can find the testing center nearest you by:

1. Calling 1-800-62-MY-GED OR

2. Checking in the blue pages of your local tele￾phone book (look for “GED Testing” under the

state department of education listing) OR

3. Going to www.acenet.edu/clll/ged/area-contacts￾TT.cfm. From there, select your specific area to

find out how to contact your local testing center.

International Testing

If you live outside the United States, Canada, or their

territories, you can still take the GED through one of

Thomson Prometric’s testing centers. Thomson Promet￾ric, in partnership with the ACE, offers a computer-based

GED and a high school diploma through the state of

–ALL ABOUT THE GED–

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